Thanks to the ever-shrinking size of electronics and the continued desire of bad people to take our stuff, cars are no longer the only vehicles that can be fitted with alarms.

Now some modern bikes actually come with a factory-installed alarm, but most bike out there don’t have anything like that. So if you want your significant other (your bike, not your spouse) to make some noise when someone is attempting a kidnapping, then you probably want to invest in something that will do the trick.

Here I’ve looked at some popular, common devices that you can easily add onto any bike to provide a warning when someone tampers with the bike. Many of them will also physically immobilize the bike for a double measure of safety.

I’ve purposefully avoided listing any alarms that have to be permanently attached to the motorcycle or require that you splice into the electrical system. They are a pain in the butt and, frankly, you don’t need them. The only built-in measure that I do recommend is a satellite tracking device and those can only be fitted by a professional dealer, so it’s not relevant to this conversation.

Nope, all of these alarms can be carried around in your bag and attached to your bike whenever you have to leave it alone. If you use a ground anchor and chain at home you can add these alarms to the total setup in order to provide a warning if someone is trying to take the bike. Since most ground anchors and chains are certified to sustain five minutes of attack, the alarm will scare off the thief or alert you long before they have a chance to get the chain broken.

So let’s have a look at these cool little gizmos.

Astra Depot 6mm Lock Alarm

This is one of the cheapest bike lock alarms that I’ve seen. This little guy attaches to your disc brake and will let out a loud alarm if disturbed. Your disc needs to be the right size though – it can’t be more than 1 cm thick and the holes need to be 6mm. Astra Depot says that this is widely compatible though, and will fit bikes of various styles from different manufacturers.

The lock is stainless steel, it’s waterproof, and it costs less than twenty bucks. People who have bought them seem pretty happy and the lock alarm works as advertised. I think the piece of mind you can buy for a twenty and change is definitely worth it.

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Artago Secure 24S.6M Alarm Disc Lock

The Artago is a good-looking electronic disc lock with a LOUD alarm of more than 120 dB. It’s not cheap though, so hopefully it makes it worth the price. The 6mm pin diameter means that it will be compatible with all but the weirdest, exotic brake discs.

Powered by an inexpensive CR2 lithium cell and with IP54 water resistance, it seems that at least you won’t have to worry about getting the Artago wet or about finding a battery for it when it runs out.

One neat trick that the Artago has is the inclusion of a light alarm as well. This is especially useful at night when its powerful little light will be clearly visible and a thief will not have the luxury of working under cover of darkness.

It’s a bit pricey, but given the extra light-up functionality, nice design, and two year warranty, it might just be worth it.

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XENA XX10-Y

Another rather pricey disc lock; this one bright yellow, which might very well be an additional deterrent. This is a rather hefty lock with a loud 120 dB alarm, using the kind of CR2 lithium cell you can get from almost any pharmacy.

The barrel is freeze-spray resistant, which is one fast technique that thieves have been using recently. The alarm module is also removable if you just want a lock.

Each lock has a unique key code and the pin has been reinforced with carbide. The only thing that concerns me is the size of the pin, which may be too big for some motorcycles. So be sure to measure the holes on your disc before making a purchase. Otherwise I think this is a great little alarm.

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Carchet Scooter Alarm

Well, here we have an alarm that is not also a brake disc lock. This alarm is battery powered, so it doesn’t have to be spliced into your wiring. It costs nine bucks, uses a 9-volt cell, and has a little remote to activate it, just like a car’s alarm. If the bike is moved, a sensor will pick that up and squeal.

Unfortunately it seems to only work now and then, it isn’t waterproof, and basically if you can’t trust it it does nothing for your peace of mind. It’s a nope on this one, I’m afraid.

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Make Some Noise

If you aren’t talking about complicated “cut your wires up” alarm systems then one alarm seems pretty much like the next. I still maintain that good quality disc locks with built in alarms are the way to go. If you do want a fancier alarm I suggest you get a professional to do it, especially since it requires messing around with the ignition system’s wiring.

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